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Embodied Healing: Survivor and Facilitator Voices from the Practice of Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
First-hand essays of embodied healing from the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at Justice Resource challenges, triumphs, and healing strategies for trauma-sensitive therapists and yoga teachers. All editor proceeds from Embodied Healing will fund direct access to Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY).
This collection of essays explores the applications of TCTSY--Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga--as a powerful evidence-based modality to help clients heal in the aftermath of trauma. Written by a range of contributors including yoga facilitators, survivors, and therapists, the first-hand accounts in Healing with Trauma-Sensitive Yoga examine real-life situations and provide guidance on how to act, react, and respond to trauma on the mat. Each essay centers the voices, wisdom, and experiences of survivors and practitioners who work directly with trauma-sensitive embodiment therapies.
From navigating issues of touch and consent to avoiding triggers, practitioners and readers will learn how to support survivors of trauma as they reintegrate their bodies and reclaim their lives. Organized into sections based on principles of trauma-sensitive yoga--experiencing the present moment, making choices, taking effective action, and creating rhythms--the 12 essays are for yoga teachers, therapists, survivors, and mental health professionals and trauma healers.
This collection of essays explores the applications of TCTSY--Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga--as a powerful evidence-based modality to help clients heal in the aftermath of trauma. Written by a range of contributors including yoga facilitators, survivors, and therapists, the first-hand accounts in Healing with Trauma-Sensitive Yoga examine real-life situations and provide guidance on how to act, react, and respond to trauma on the mat. Each essay centers the voices, wisdom, and experiences of survivors and practitioners who work directly with trauma-sensitive embodiment therapies.
From navigating issues of touch and consent to avoiding triggers, practitioners and readers will learn how to support survivors of trauma as they reintegrate their bodies and reclaim their lives. Organized into sections based on principles of trauma-sensitive yoga--experiencing the present moment, making choices, taking effective action, and creating rhythms--the 12 essays are for yoga teachers, therapists, survivors, and mental health professionals and trauma healers.
- GenresNonfiction
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2020
17 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 15, 2024
Review to come!
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If you're a trauma-informed yoga teacher, I highly recommend this volume of essays written by trauma-sensitive facilitators and survivors. It's been a while since I read it, so I will keep this review short.
My favourite essays are by the facilitators, particularly the ones that share what worked, what didn't in terms of a trauma-informed space for their specific audience:
-There was one essay in the last section that dealt with an ED population that I really gained a lot of value in terms of how the facilitator adapted their approach, or simply noticed differences between teens with ED and adults with ED.
-"Embers of Rage" was an essay from a facilitator noticing healing is not linear, a truism in action, in how her students actually moved from different stages of trauma-sensitive yoga principles in a non-linear fashion.
-This one is from a survivor, I believe, but I valued the inclusion of her words that a fast-paced yoga class was much more safer for her than restorative or a still practice. I think there is an idea that something restorative is inherently trauma-informed but it isn't.
The essays were organized into sections based on the principles of Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY). Overall, my favourite sections were "Choice-Making" and "Sharing Authentic Experience."
There were essays I found problematic, or if not problematic, showing obvious bias for western thought and TCTSY. Which, of course I understand everyone who is contributing an essay has been positively impacted by its teachings.
And yet. My major criticisms lie in the chapter about Zen Buddhism. I found the author had made peace with the rigid severity of the tradition but still had some gripes about it that felt more about their own personal preference than whistle-blowing systemic corruption. I compare this to an essay about a survivor turned facilitator whose first teacher, I could see how she revealed a complicated relationship. In some moments, feeling his energy and encouragement and also seeing his human flaws. There was something about that essay where I felt the writer had seen more clearly into the matter, of her first yoga teacher, of who she was, and what she needed moving forward.
Overall, this volume of essays provokes important thought and conversation and action.
~
If you're a trauma-informed yoga teacher, I highly recommend this volume of essays written by trauma-sensitive facilitators and survivors. It's been a while since I read it, so I will keep this review short.
My favourite essays are by the facilitators, particularly the ones that share what worked, what didn't in terms of a trauma-informed space for their specific audience:
-There was one essay in the last section that dealt with an ED population that I really gained a lot of value in terms of how the facilitator adapted their approach, or simply noticed differences between teens with ED and adults with ED.
-"Embers of Rage" was an essay from a facilitator noticing healing is not linear, a truism in action, in how her students actually moved from different stages of trauma-sensitive yoga principles in a non-linear fashion.
-This one is from a survivor, I believe, but I valued the inclusion of her words that a fast-paced yoga class was much more safer for her than restorative or a still practice. I think there is an idea that something restorative is inherently trauma-informed but it isn't.
The essays were organized into sections based on the principles of Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY). Overall, my favourite sections were "Choice-Making" and "Sharing Authentic Experience."
There were essays I found problematic, or if not problematic, showing obvious bias for western thought and TCTSY. Which, of course I understand everyone who is contributing an essay has been positively impacted by its teachings.
And yet. My major criticisms lie in the chapter about Zen Buddhism. I found the author had made peace with the rigid severity of the tradition but still had some gripes about it that felt more about their own personal preference than whistle-blowing systemic corruption. I compare this to an essay about a survivor turned facilitator whose first teacher, I could see how she revealed a complicated relationship. In some moments, feeling his energy and encouragement and also seeing his human flaws. There was something about that essay where I felt the writer had seen more clearly into the matter, of her first yoga teacher, of who she was, and what she needed moving forward.
Overall, this volume of essays provokes important thought and conversation and action.
August 27, 2022
I’m a researcher and a yoga teacher. My focus is using yoga to help people who have had traumatic brain injuries.
Based on that information, North Atlantic Books generously shared this book with me and I’m so thankful.
I had never heard of TCTSY before, but it was so inspiring to learn about the program through these moving stories. I have been considering what direction I want to go in for my 300 hour training, so I will definitely be checking into this further.
The book shares perspectives of facilitators and participants. There is a wide range of stories and each are impactful in their own way. I commend the bravery it takes to share such painful details with the world for the sake of allowing future progress to be made. At times, the book is very heavy. It took me longer to read than most books, because I needed to pause between chapters.
If you are curious to learn more about the experiences engaging in and facilitating trauma informed yoga, I definitely recommend! It would even be great for regular yoga teachers to start understanding more of the impact they have on students without even noticing.
Based on that information, North Atlantic Books generously shared this book with me and I’m so thankful.
I had never heard of TCTSY before, but it was so inspiring to learn about the program through these moving stories. I have been considering what direction I want to go in for my 300 hour training, so I will definitely be checking into this further.
The book shares perspectives of facilitators and participants. There is a wide range of stories and each are impactful in their own way. I commend the bravery it takes to share such painful details with the world for the sake of allowing future progress to be made. At times, the book is very heavy. It took me longer to read than most books, because I needed to pause between chapters.
If you are curious to learn more about the experiences engaging in and facilitating trauma informed yoga, I definitely recommend! It would even be great for regular yoga teachers to start understanding more of the impact they have on students without even noticing.
May 14, 2025
A life changing book for me, personally.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews